American Tech Companies Resume Net Neutrality Talks

Lobbyists representing big internet companies, including Microsoft and Yahoo, have resumed meetings to discuss on which side of the net neutrality line they’ll fall this time around.

Perhaps the most notable absences at these talks are Google and the FCC. Previously the FCC had been involved in talks with major players in internet businesses to determine policies which would best suit regulating the open internet. The organization’s involvement in the discussions ended right before the now notorious Google-Verizon proposal.

So far as makes sense, the meetings were probably between groups trying to decide where the stand on what Google and Verizon have already suggested, that is whether or not wireless broadband should be left unregulated. After all, Yahoo’s current business is very much in the hands of providing content, while Microsoft’s new efforts in the mobile space focuses heavily on the games aspect of this platform.

While more companies than just these two were surely present at the talks, I would say it’s a safe bet that Microsoft voiced some concerns over the idea of potential limitations and tiering in wireless. The Redmond giant is about to try and get into a market largely by having a really great mobile gaming experience, which will no doubt involve mobile play. Though Microsoft could afford to pay a carrier like Verizon or AT&T to give it priority access, it surely doesn’t want to have to cut checks regularly to avoid player ire over disconnects and poor quality of service.

My guess is that whatever catchy title this coalition gives itself, its policy proposal will deviate from Google-Verizon. I’d like to think it’s not too naive to think that some corporate interests in this case coincide with consumer protections.